Intravascular catheter having combined imaging abrasion head

Abstract

Front-end and side-on intravascular catheters are described that comprise an abrasive head contained substantially within a housing. Aspiration means and flushing means are connected to the region of grinding to remove dislodged debris. A preferred embodiment has the abrasive surface of a rotatable head comprised of diamond powder. Another preferred embodiment has an ultrasonic transducer affixed to the head to permit transluminal imaging of the site of occlusion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for removing stenotic material from a patient's vascular system comprising the steps of: introducing a catheter having a housing into the vascular system, said catheter having an abrasive member devoid of cutting edges and contained substantially within the housing during abrasion; and   contacting the stenotic material with said abrasive member, whereby the stenotic material is abraded and collected into the housing.   
     
     
       2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the abraded stenotic material is withdrawn from the housing by aspiration. 
     
     
       3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the abraded stenotic material is withdrawn from the housing by a combination of flushing and aspiration. 
     
     
       4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising imaging the vascular system with an ultrasonic transducer, mounted on the abrasive member. 
     
     
       5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the transducer has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the abrasive member extends longitudinally from at least the proximal end of the transducer to at least the distal end of the transducer. 
     
     
       6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the housing has an aperture, and further comprising the step of inflating at least one inflatable balloon attached to the housing so that the stenotic material penetrates the aperture of the housing. 
     
     
       7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the abrasive member is operated by translation in combination with rotation. 
     
     
       8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the abrasive member is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
       9. A method for removing stenotic material from a patient's vascular system comprising the steps of: introducing a catheter having a housing into the vascular system, said catheter having an abrasive member devoid of cutting edges and contained substantially within the catheter during abrasion;   contacting the stenotic material with said abrasive member, whereby the stenotic material is abraded; and   collecting abraded stenotic material by means of flushing and aspiration within the catheter.   
     
     
       10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the abraded stenotic material is withdrawn from the housing by aspiration. 
     
     
       11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the abraded stenotic material is withdrawn from the housing by a combination of flushing and aspiration. 
     
     
       12. A method according to claim 9, further comprising imaging the vascular system with an ultrasonic transducer, mounted on the abrasive member. 
     
     
       13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the transducer has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the abrasive member extends longitudinally from at least the proximal end of the transducer to at least the distal end of the transducer. 
     
     
       14. A method according to claim 9, wherein the housing has an aperture, and further comprising the step of inflating at least one inflatable balloon attached to the housing so that the stenotic material penetrates the aperture of the housing. 
     
     
       15. A method according to claim 9, wherein the abrasive member is operated by translation in combination with rotation. 
     
     
       16. A method according to claim 9 wherein the abrasive member is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
       17. A method for removing stenotic material from a patient's vascular system comprising the steps of: introducing a catheter having a housing into the vascular system, said catheter having an abrasive member contained completely within the catheter during abrasion; and   contacting the stenotic material with said abrasive member, whereby the stenotic material is abraded and collected by the catheter.   
     
     
       18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the abraded stenotic material is withdrawn from the housing by aspiration. 
     
     
       19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the abraded stenotic material is withdrawn from the housing by a combination of flushing and aspiration. 
     
     
       20. A method according to claim 17, further comprising imaging the vascular system with an ultrasonic transducer, mounted on the abrasive member. 
     
     
       21. A method according to claim 20 wherein the transducer has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the abrasive member extends longitudinally from at least the proximal end of the transducer to at least the distal end of the transducer. 
     
     
       22. A method according to claim 17, wherein the housing has an aperture, and further comprising the step of inflating at least one inflatable balloon attached to the housing so that the stenotic material penetrates the aperture of the housing. 
     
     
       23. A method according to claim 17, wherein the abrasive member is operated by translation in combination with rotation. 
     
     
       24. A method according to claim 17 wherein the abrasive member is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
       25. A method for removing stenotic material from a patient's vascular system comprising the steps of: introducing a catheter having a housing, said catheter having an abrasive member contained completely within the housing during abrasion;   contacting the stenotic material with said abrasive member, whereby the stenotic material is abraded; and   collecting abraded stenotic material by means of flushing and aspiration within the catheter.   
     
     
       26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the abraded stenotic material is withdrawn from the housing by aspiration. 
     
     
       27. A method according to claim 26, wherein the abraded stenotic material is withdrawn from the housing by a combination of flushing and aspiration. 
     
     
       28. A method according to claim 25, further comprising imaging the vascular system with an ultrasonic transducer, mounted on the abrasive member. 
     
     
       29. A method according to claim 28 wherein the transducer has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the abrasive member extends longitudinally from at least the proximal end of the transducer to at least the distal end of the transducer. 
     
     
       30. A method according to claim 25, wherein the housing has an aperture, and further comprising the step of inflating at least one inflatable balloon attached to the housing so that the stenotic material penetrates the aperture of the housing. 
     
     
       31. A method according to claim 25, wherein the abrasive member is operated by translation in combination with rotation. 
     
     
       32. A method according to claim 25 wherein the abrasive member is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
       33. A method for imaging and removing stenotic material in a patient's vascular system comprising the steps of: introducing a catheter into the vascular system, said catheter having an abrasive member with an ultrasound transducer mounted thereon, said abrasive member remaining substantially within the catheter during abrasion;   contacting the stenotic material with said abrasive member, causing the stenotic material to be abraded; and   imaging the vascular system with the ultrasound transducer.   
     
     
       34. A method according to claim 33 wherein the imaging is performed substantially concurrently with the contacting. 
     
     
       35. A method according to claim 33 wherein the abraded material is withdrawn from the catheter by aspiration. 
     
     
       36. A method according to claim 33, wherein the catheter has a housing with an aperture, and further comprising the step of inflating a balloon attached to the housing so that the stenotic material enters the aperture. 
     
     
       37. A method according to claim 33, wherein the abrasive member is operated by translation and rotation. 
     
     
       38. A method according to claim 37, wherein the abrasive member is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
       39. A method according to claim 33 wherein the abrasive member is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
       40. A method according to claim 33 wherein the transducer has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the abrasive member extends longitudinally from at least the proximal end of the transducer to at least the distal end of the transducer. 
     
     
       41. A method for removing stenotic material from a patient's vascular system comprising the steps of: introducing a catheter having a housing into the vascular system, said catheter having an elongate cylindrical abrasive member contained substantially within the housing during abrasion; and   contacting the stenotic material with said abrasive member, whereby the stenotic material is abraded and collected into the housing.   
     
     
       42. A method according to claim 41, further comprising the step of withdrawing abraded stenotic material from the housing by aspiration. 
     
     
       43. A method according to claim 42, wherein the abraded stenotic material is withdrawn from the housing by a combination of flushing and aspiration. 
     
     
       44. A method according to claim 41, further comprising the step of imaging the vascular system with an ultrasonic transducer that is mounted on the abrasive member. 
     
     
       45. A method according to claim 44 wherein the transducer has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the abrasive member extends longitudinally from at least the proximal end of the transducer to at least the distal end of the transducer. 
     
     
       46. A method according to claim 44, wherein the abrasive member is devoid of cutting edges. 
     
     
       47. A method according to claim 46 wherein the transducer has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the abrasive member extends longitudinally from at least the proximal end of the transducer to at least the distal end of the transducer. 
     
     
       48. A method according to claim 46, wherein the abrasive member is completely within the housing during abrasion. 
     
     
       49. A method according to claim 48 wherein the transducer has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the abrasive member extends longitudinally from at least the proximal end of the transducer to at least the distal end of the transducer. 
     
     
       50. A method according to claim 44, wherein the abrasive member is completely within the housing during abrasion. 
     
     
       51. A method according to claim 50 wherein the transducer has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the abrasive member extends longitudinally from at least the proximal end of the transducer to at least the distal end of the transducer. 
     
     
       52. A method according to claim 41, further comprising the step of inflating a balloon attached to the housing to cause the stenotic material to penetrate an aperture of the housing. 
     
     
       53. A method according to claim 41, wherein the abrasive member is operated by translation in combination with rotation. 
     
     
       54. A method according to claim 41, wherein the abrasive member is devoid of cutting edges. 
     
     
       55. A method according to claim 54, wherein the abrasive member is contained completely within the housing during abrasion. 
     
     
       56. A method according to claim 41, wherein the abrasive member is contained completely within the housing during abrasion.